Care event detection and alerts

ABSTRACT

An occurrence of one or more “care events” is detected by an electronic device monitoring environmental data and/or user data from one or more sensors. The electronic device transmits one or more alerts regarding the detected occurrence to at least one other electronic device. In some cases, the electronic device may cooperate with at least one other electronic device in monitoring, detecting, and/or transmitting. For example, the electronic device may detect the occurrence based on sensor data received from a cooperative electronic device or such data in combination with the electronic device&#39;s sensor data. By way of another example, the electronic device may detect the occurrence and signal a cooperative electronic device to transmit one or more alerts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/849,427, filed Sep. 9, 2015, which claims the benefit of provisionalpatent application No. 62/047,781, filed Sep. 9, 2014, both of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to care events, and more specificallyto detection of care events and transmission of alerts regardingdetected care events.

BACKGROUND

Care events may be any event that may occur for which a user may needcare. For example, care events may include a car crash, a bike accident,a medical emergency such as a heart attack or an aneurysm, separation ofa child from the child's caregiver, a dementia patient becoming lost, anavalanche, a fall, a mugging, a fire, and/or any other event for which auser may require medical, police, family, fire rescue, and/or other kindof assistance.

In order for the user to receive care for such a care event, one or moreindividuals or entities who provide such care (such as friends, family,firefighters, ambulances, hospitals, police, and so on) may need to bealerted to the fact that the care event has occurred. Often, the usermay contact such individuals or entities upon the occurrence of theevent. For example, a user who has been in a car crash may telephoneemergency services for an ambulance. However, in many cases the user maybe incapacitated and/or otherwise unable to initiate communicationsregarding the care event.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses systems, methods, and apparatuses forproviding alerts regarding a care event. An occurrence of one or more“care events” may be detected by an electronic device monitoringenvironmental data and/or user data from one or more sensors. Theelectronic device may transmit one or more alerts regarding the detectedoccurrence to at least one other electronic device. In some cases, theelectronic device may cooperate with at least one other electronicdevice in monitoring, detecting, and/or transmitting. For example, theelectronic device may detect the occurrence based on sensor datareceived from a cooperative electronic device or such data incombination with the electronic device's sensor data. By way of anotherexample, the electronic device may detect the occurrence and signal acooperative electronic device to transmit one or more alerts.

In some implementations, detection of whether or not a care event hasoccurred may be dependent upon a context of the electronic device, suchas a detected location or speed of travel of the electronic device.

In various implementations, the alerts may be transmitted to electronicdevices listed in a care list, which may be user defined. Such a carelist may be a data record indicating parties whom should be alerted incase of an occurrence and how they should be alerted. In some cases, acare list may have multiple levels where an alert for an occurrence istransmitted to a first set of list members and then to a second set oflist members if an escalation condition occurs. Further, such a carelist may also include conditions specifying different procedures to befollowed in transmitting alerts based on factors such as the particularoccurrence detected, a context of the electronic device, and so on.

In some implementations, information associated with the occurrence maybe included in the transmitted alert. In various cases, the electronicdevice may present one or more prompts upon detection of an occurrenceand alerts may be transmitted if a user does not enter input indicatingnot to transmit alerts within a timeout period. In such cases,information such as a failure to respond to such a prompt, an indicationof an affirmative response to such a prompt, an affirmative response,and so on may also be included in the transmitted alert.

In various implementations, the electronic device may present one ormore notifications regarding the detection of the occurrence. Forexample, the electronic device may display and/or otherwise medicalinformation for a user when an occurrence is detected and may provideone or more haptic outputs to indicate that the medical information isbeing provided. In addition and/or in the alternative to the electronicdevice providing such notifications, the electronic device may signalother proximate electronic devices to provide such notifications. Invarious cases, the electronic device may switch into one or more powersaving modes when an occurrence is detected in order to preserve powerfor presenting notifications, transmitting alerts, and so on.

In some implementations, environmental data may relate to connection ofthe electronic device to a monitored device and/or the relationship ofthe electronic device to a geographical boundary. As such, an occurrencemay be detected when a signal is not received from the monitoredelectronic device within a period of time, the monitored electronicdevice moves more than a threshold distance from the electronic device,the electronic device crosses the geographical boundary, and so on.

In various embodiments, a system for providing alerts regarding a careevent includes an electronic device having at least one non transitorystorage medium that stores instructions and at least one processing unitthat executes the instructions to: detect occurrence of at least onecare event by monitoring at least one of environment data or user datafrom at least one sensor and transmit at least one alert regarding thedetected occurrence to at least one other electronic device.

In some embodiments, an electronic device includes at least one nontransitory storage medium that stores instructions and at least oneprocessing unit that executes the instructions to: detect occurrence ofat least one care event by monitoring at least one of environment dataor user data from at least one sensor and transmit at least one alertregarding the detected occurrence to at least one other electronicdevice.

In one or more embodiments, a method for providing alerts regarding acare event includes detecting occurrence of at least one care eventutilizing an electronic device by monitoring at least one of environmentdata or user data from at least one sensor and transmitting at least onealert regarding the detected occurrence to at least one other electronicdevice.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are for purposes of example andexplanation and do not necessarily limit the present disclosure. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure.Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing alerts regardinga care event.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating relationships between functionalcomponents of a system for providing alerts regarding a care event.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a first example method for providingalerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed by theexample systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a second example method forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a third example method for providingalerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed by theexample systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a fourth example method forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a fifth example method for providingalerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed by theexample systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example care list. Such a care listmay be utilized by the example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2 and/or in theexample methods of FIGS. 3-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, andcomputer program products that embody various elements of the presentdisclosure. However, it should be understood that the describeddisclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to thosedescribed herein.

The present disclosure discloses systems, methods, and apparatuses forproviding alerts regarding a care event. An occurrence of one or more“care events” (any event for which a user may need care) may be detectedby an electronic device monitoring environmental data (data regardingthe environment around the electronic device and/or surrounding area)and/or user data (data regarding a user of the electronic device and/orrelated users) from one or more sensors. The electronic device maytransmit one or more alerts regarding the detected occurrence to atleast one other electronic device. In some cases, the electronic devicemay cooperate with at least one other electronic device (a cooperativeelectronic device) in monitoring, detecting, and/or transmitting. Forexample, the electronic device may detect the occurrence based on sensordata received from a cooperative electronic device or such data incombination with the electronic device's sensor data. By way of anotherexample, the electronic device may detect the occurrence and signal acooperative electronic device to transmit one or more alerts.

In various implementations, the alerts may be transmitted (singly,periodically, and/or otherwise transmitted) to electronic devices listedin a care list, which may be user defined. Such a care list may be adata record indicating parties whom should be alerted in case of anoccurrence and how they should be alerted (i.e., contact informationand/or what communication medium to utilize). In some cases, a care listmay have multiple levels where an alert for an occurrence is transmittedto a first set of list members (such as family members) and then to asecond set of list members (such as emergency services) if an escalationcondition occurs (such as elapse of a time period from transmission ofthe alert to the first set of list members). Further, such a care listmay also include conditions specifying different procedures to befollowed in transmitting alerts based on factors such as the particularoccurrence detected (such as transmitting alerts to multiple levels ofmembers without an escalation condition for more severe occurrences), acontext of the electronic device (such as transmitting alerts toemergency services instead of family when the electronic device islocated outside the user's home country or using an alternativecommunication medium address instead of a preferred communication mediumaddress when the electronic device is unable to utilize the preferredcommunication medium), and so on.

In some implementations, information associated with the occurrence(such as the environmental data, the user data, a portion of theenvironmental data or user data, information regarding the user orelectronic device, medical records and/or other medical data for theuser, position information, and so on) may be included in thetransmitted alert. In various cases, the electronic device may presentone or more prompts (audio, visual, and so on) upon detection of anoccurrence and alerts may be transmitted if a user does not enter input(whether by touch input, button or key press, voice response, motionresponse such as a head shake captured by camera) indicating not totransmit alerts within a timeout period. In such cases, information suchas a failure to respond to such a prompt, an indication of anaffirmative response to such a prompt, an affirmative response, and soon may also be included in the transmitted alert.

In various implementations, detection of whether or not a care event hasoccurred may be dependent upon a context of the electronic device, suchas a detected location or speed of travel of the electronic device. Forexample, a user's heart rate may be monitored to determine whether ornot a user has a cardiac problem. However, a heart rate for a care eventshould be detected may be different when a user is exercising as opposedto when the user is not exercising. As such, an occurrence may not bedetected for a higher heart rate when a location of the electronicdevice is detected as the user's gym or when the electronic device istravelling at a speed indicating that the user is jogging unless theheart rate is within a range that is excessive for exercise as well.

In some implementations, the electronic device may present one or morenotifications regarding the detection of the occurrence. For example,the electronic device may display and/or otherwise medical informationfor a user (such as medical conditions, allergies, medical history,physician information, identification information, and so on) (and/orinformation regarding the occurrence that was detected) when anoccurrence is detected and may provide one or more haptic outputs toindicate that the medical information is being provided. In additionand/or in the alternative to the electronic device providing suchnotifications, the electronic device may signal other proximateelectronic devices (such as via Bluetooth or other communication media)to provide such notifications. In various cases, the electronic devicemay switch into one or more power saving modes (such as multiple modesthat use progressively less power that are progressively switched toupon the elapse of successive time periods from the detection of anoccurrence) when an occurrence is detected in order to preserve powerfor presenting notifications, transmitting alerts, and so on.

In various implementations, environmental data may relate to connectionof the electronic device to a monitored device and/or the relationshipof the electronic device to a geographical boundary. As such, anoccurrence may be detected when a signal is not received from themonitored electronic device within a period of time, the monitoredelectronic device moves more than a threshold distance from theelectronic device, the electronic device crosses the geographicalboundary, and so on.

The electronic device may monitor environmental data and/or user datafrom a variety of different sensors of the electronic device and/or oneor more cooperative electronic devices to determine whether or not acare event has occurred. Such sensors may include, but are not limitedto one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, altimeters,microphones, motion sensors, photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors, galvanicskin detectors, global positioning system (GPS) devices, communicationcomponents, heart rate monitors, respiratory system monitors, bloodpressure monitors, temperature sensors, and/or any other kind of sensor.In some cases, the electronic device may present one or morenotifications regarding data from monitored sensors prior to thedetection of an occurrence, such as where the monitored data indicatesthat an event may soon occur (such as where a combination ofaccelerometer data and GPS data indicates that a user is in a speedingcar and may soon be in an accident).

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system 100 for providing alertsregarding a care event. The system may include an electronic device 101that monitors environmental data and/or user 102 data to detect theoccurrence of one or more care events and transmit one or more alertsregarding the detected occurrence to one or more other electronicdevices.

As illustrated, the electronic device 101 is a fitness monitor worn onthe bicep of a user 102. However, it is understood that this is anexample. In various implementations, the electronic device may be anykind of electronic device such as a mobile computer, a tablet computer,a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a cellular telephone, a wearabledevice, a heart rate monitor, a respiratory monitor, a smart phone, adigital media player, and/or any other kind of electronic device.

In some implementations, the electronic device 101 may cooperate withone or more electronic devices 103 in detecting the occurrence,transmitting the alerts, and/or performing other functions. Asillustrated, the cooperative electronic device 103 is a smart phone in ashirt pocket 104 of the user 102. However, it is understood that this isan example and that in various cases any kind or number of electronicdevices (such as the examples provided for the electronic device above)may cooperate with the electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating relationships between functionalcomponents of a system for providing alerts regarding a care event. Thesystem 200 may include an electronic device 101, one or more cooperativeelectronic devices 103 (referenced as such because it is a device withwhich the electronic device is configured to cooperate), and/or one ormore care provider electronic devices 204 (referenced as such because itis a device for which the electronic device is configured to transmitalerts to regarding care events).

As illustrated, the electronic device 101 may include one or moreprocessing units 205, one or more sensors 206 (such as one or moreaccelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, altimeters, microphones, motionsensors, PPG sensors, galvanic skin detectors, GPS devices,communication components, heart rate monitors, respiratory systemmonitors, blood pressure monitors, temperature sensors, and/or any otherkind of sensor), one or more communication components 207 (which may beany kind of wired and/or wireless communication components such as acellular antenna, a Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy antenna, a nearfield communication antenna, a WiFi antenna, an infra-red transmitterand/or receiver, an Ethernet adapter, and/or other such communicationcomponent), one or more input/output components 208 (such as one or moredisplays, speakers, microphones, touch screens, mice, keyboards, virtualkeyboards, touch pads, track pads, and so on), and/or one or morenon-transitory storage media 209 (which may take the form of, but is notlimited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium;magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory;erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on).

Similarly, a cooperative electronic device 103 may include one or moreprocessing units 210, sensor(s) 211, storage media 212, communicationcomponents 213, and/or other components. Likewise, a care providerelectronic device 204 may include one or more communication components214 and/or various other components such as those listed above for theelectronic device 101.

As described above the electronic device 101 may cooperate with one ormore cooperative electronic devices 103 to detect the occurrence of acare event, transmit alerts regarding a detected care event, and/orperform other functions.

For example, in some cases the cooperative electronic device 103 mayinclude one or more sensors 211 that detect environmental data and/oruser data and the electronic device 101 may not include such sensors.Instead, the electronic device may receive and monitor data from suchsensors via the communication components 207 and 213. The electronicdevice may determine from the monitored received data that a care eventhas occurred. The electronic device may transmit one or more alertsregarding such a detected care event to one or more care providerelectronic devices 204 via the communication components 207 and 214.

By way of another example, the cooperative electronic device 103 maymonitor data from sensors 211 and transmit one or more indications tothe electronic device 101 when a care event occurs. As such, theelectronic device may determine that a care event has occurred when suchan indication is received and may transmit one or more alerts regardingsuch a detected care event to one or more care provider electronicdevices 204.

By way of still another example, the electronic device 101 may monitordata from both sensor(s) 206 and received data from sensor(s) 211 todetermine that a care event has occurred. In an example case, a sensor206 may monitor a user's heart rate while a sensor 211 monitorsacceleration. The electronic device may determine from the sensor 206that a heart rate is no longer detected and from the sensor 211 that asudden acceleration before a stop was detected. From these two pieces ofdata, the electronic device may determine that the user has had a heartattack and fallen to the ground incapacitated. As such, the electronicdevice may transmit one or more alerts.

In another example, the electronic device 101 may determine whether ornot a care event has occurred utilizing data from the sensor(s) 206, butmay obtain other information for transmitting the alert from thecooperative device 103. In one example case, the cooperative electronicdevice may include a GPS device but the electronic device may not. Assuch, the electronic device may obtain GPS information from thecooperative electronic device when a care event is detected so that theelectronic device may include the GPS in transmitted alerts.

In another example case, the cooperative electronic device 103 mayinclude a communication component 211 that can access medicalinformation (such as medical records) for the user (such as a cellularantenna, a WiFi antenna, and so on) whereas the electronic device mayonly include a communication component 207 that can communicate with thecooperative electronic device. As such, the electronic device may obtainmedical information from the cooperative electronic device when a careevent is detected so that the electronic device may include the medicalin transmitted alerts. Alternatively, the electronic device may signalthe cooperative electronic device to separately transmit such medicalinformation to the care provider electronic device(s) 204 (or to signalan electronic device where such medical information is stored totransmit such medical information to the care provider electronicdevice) separate from the transmitted alerts.

In yet another example, the electronic device 101 may monitor data fromsensor(s) 206 to determine whether or not a care event has occurred, butthe communication component 207 may not be capable of communicating withthe care provider electronic device 204 (whether because thecommunication component utilizes a different communication media fromthe care provider electronic device, the electronic device is out ofrange for a communication media share with the care provider electronicdevice, and/or any other such reason why the communication componentcannot communicate with the care provider electronic device) but may becapable of communicating with the cooperative electronic device 103. Inone example case, the electronic device may only include a Bluetooth lowenergy communication component whereas the cooperative electronic deviceincludes a cellular antenna. As such, the electronic device may signalthe cooperative electronic device to transmit the alert to the careprovider electronic device.

In another example case, the electronic device 101 may be part of a meshnetwork. In some cases, the care provider electronic device 204 may bepart of the mesh network but the electronic device may not be withinrange and the transmitted alert may related from the electronic deviceto a cooperative electronic device that is within range and subsequentlyrelayed (whether immediately, at a delay, or when the cooperativeelectronic device comes within range of another cooperative electronicdevice) in the mesh network until the alert reaches the care providerelectronic device. In other cases, the care provider electronic device204 may not be part of the mesh network the transmitted alert mayrelated from the electronic device to a cooperative electronic devicethat is part of the mesh network and subsequently relayed in the meshnetwork until the alert reaches a cooperative electronic device that cancommunicate with the care provider electronic device, which then mayrelay the alert accordingly.

In various implementations, the electronic device 101 may transmitalerts regarding a detected occurrence of a care event to one or morecare provider electronic devices 204 associated with one or moreentities included in a user defined (or otherwise defined) care list.Such a care list may include information utilized to transmit carealerts (such as contact information, communication media to utilize, andso on) and/or various conditions and/or rules under which alerts may betransmitted to various care providers.

In some cases, a care list may be defined to include multiple levels.Such multiple levels may be ranked sets of members. In some cases, carelist members may be ranked in levels such that alerts regarding anoccurrence are first transmitted to a first level of members and then toa second level of members if an escalation condition occurs. Suchescalation conditions may include elapse of a timeout period, escalationof the detected care event occurrence, failure to receiveacknowledgement from the first level of members, receipt of anindication from the first level of members to escalate (such as anindication that the first level members will be unable to respondappropriately), and/or any other such reason to escalate to a secondlevel of members.

FIG. 8 is a table 800 illustrating an example care list. As illustrated,the table includes a first level 801 including a first entry 803 for auser's spouse and a second entry 804 for the user's parent and a secondlevel 802 including an entry 805 for emergency services. As alsoillustrated, the entries for the user's spouse and parent may include atelephone number to which telephone calls may be placed and/or to whichtext messages may be sent and email addresses to which emails may besent. Further, the entry for emergency services may include an emergencyservices telephone number to which telephone calls may be placed torequest emergency services.

Returning to FIG. 2, the electronic device 101 may utilize a care listconfigured as in the table 800 of FIG. 8. Upon detection of anoccurrence, the electronic device may transmit (and/or cooperate withone or more cooperative electronic devices 103 to transmit) alerts tothe telephone numbers and/or emails of the user's spouse and parent.Upon the elapse of a period of time such as a half an hour, theelectronic device may determine that the user's spouse and parent havebeen unable to respond. As such, the electronic device may thendetermine the situation has escalated and transmit alerts to emergencyservices.

A care list may also include one or more conditions specifying differentprocedures to be followed in transmitting alerts based on factors suchas the particular occurrence detected. For example, if an electronicdevice 101 utilizing a care list configured as in table 800 of FIG. 8detects a relatively less serious care event such as an elderly user hasfallen and should be checked on, the electronic device may transmitalerts according to the levels of the care list as normal. However, ifthe electronic device detects a relatively more serious care event suchas a failure to detect a heartbeat, the electronic device may skip thefirst level and immediately transmit alerts to emergency services (ortransmit alerts to both levels simultaneously).

A care list may also include one or more conditions related to a contextof the electronic device 101. For example, if one or more entriesspecify communication media that the electronic device is unable toutilize (such as where the electronic device does not utilize such amedia or whether the media is currently unavailable such as in the caseof being out of range), one or more conditions may specify one or moreother entries to utilize which specify a communication media that theelectronic device is able to utilize. In some cases, an entry mayspecify an email address but the electronic device may not currently bein a data network. As such, the electronic device may instead utilize anentry that has a telephone number that the electronic device is capableof contacting via an available non-data cellular network.

In cases where no communication media are currently utilizable by theelectronic device 101, the electronic device may utilize other means oftransmitting alerts than those specified in such a care list. Forexample, if the electronic device (and/or one or more cooperativeelectronic devices 103) includes a GPS device, such a GPS device may beutilized to transmit GPS SOS alerts.

By way of another example, the care list may include a first level ofentries that are telephone numbers for family and/or friends local to auser's home city and a second level including a telephone number foremergency services that functions throughout the user's country. If theelectronic device 101 is located outside of the user's home city when anoccurrence is detected, the electronic device may transmit alerts toemergency services instead of (or in addition to) the user's familyand/or friends under the assumption that the user's family and/orfriends may not be proximate enough to the user to provide care for thedetected care event but that emergency services in the user's currentlocation will be able to respond.

By way of yet another example, the care list may include a telephonenumber for emergency services in a user's home country. If theelectronic device 101 is located outside of the user's home country whenan occurrence is detected, the electronic device may obtain (and/orutilize one or more cooperative electronic devices 103 to obtain) atelephone number for local emergency services and transmit alerts tothat telephone number instead.

Although the conditions above related to use of such a care list havebeen described as included in the care list, it is understood that theseare examples. In various implementations, such conditions may be storedoutside of such a care list by the electronic device 101 and/or one ormore cooperative electronic devices 103 and evaluated when appropriate.

In various implementations, the electronic device 101 may include avariety of information in transmitted alerts. Such information mayinclude the monitored environmental data, the user data, a portionthereof, information regarding the user and/or the electronic device,medical records and/or other medical data for the user, positionalinformation, and/or any other such information that may be relevant tothe care event and/or responding to the care event.

For example, the transmitted alert may include information identifyingthe care event for which an occurrence has been detected. In some cases,the electronic device 101 may monitor acceleration data from anaccelerometer. From such data, the electronic device may determine thatan acceleration corresponding to travel in an automobile was detectedfollowed by a sudden stop. As such, the electronic device may determinethat a user has been in an automobile accident and transmit one or morealerts indicating that an automobile accident has occurred. As the alertmay specify this information, care providers may be able to respondappropriately to the particular care event that may have occurred.

By way of another example, the transmitted alert may include positionand/or location information (such as position and/or locationinformation from a GPS device included in the electronic device 101and/or one or more cooperative electronic devices 103) identifying wherethe detected care event has occurred. Such information may enable careproviders to locate the user in order to respond to the care event. Suchinformation may also enable care providers to respond more appropriatelyto care events. For instance, information included in an alertidentifying that a user has a heart attack in a shopping mall may enablea care provider to dispatch an ambulance whereas information included inan alert indicating that a user has fallen off of a mountain in awilderness area may enable the care provider to dispatch a search andrescue helicopter.

By way of still another example, the transmitted alert may includemedical records and/or other medical information for a user. If theelectronic device detects that a user's heart has stopped, suchinformation may be included in a transmitted alert so that careproviders can ensure that responders are prepared to resuscitate theuser. Further, the transmitted alert may include medical records for theuser such as a specification of the user's blood type so that respondersmay bring appropriately typed blood if an immediate transfusion may benecessary.

In some cases, the electronic device 101 may store such medical recordsor other medical information and/or obtain such from one or morecooperative electronic devices 103 in order to include such in one ormore transmitted alerts. However, in other cases the electronic devicemay signal other devices to transmit such information. For example, theelectronic device may signal a computer system associated with a user'sdoctor to forward the user's medical information to a care provider,thus operating as an automated consent for release of medical records.

In various implementations, the electronic device 101 may present one ormore prompts via one or more input/output components 208 prior totransmitting an alert in response to detection of a care eventoccurrence. This may reduce the possibility of false care eventoccurrence detection and/or enable a user to provide additionalinformation. In such implementations, the alert may only be transmittedafter such a prompt if a user does not respond within a period of timeand/or if the user affirmatively responds (such as by voice, motion orgesture such as a head shake captured by camera or other device, and/orother captured input) that an alert should be transmitted.

If the user affirmatively responds to transmit an alert in response tosuch a prompt, the user's response may be included in the alert. Forexample, an electronic device 101 may detect that a user has fallen. Theelectronic device may provide an audio prompt asking if the userrequires assistance. In response, the user may audibly state that theuser believes himself to be having a heart attack. The electronic devicemay capture such a voice response and include the voice response in analert transmitted to emergency personnel. In this way, emergencypersonnel may be better able to evaluate the user's condition prior toresponding.

In some implementations, the determination of whether or not a careevent has occurred may be dependent on a context such as a context ofthe electronic device 101. For example, an electronic device may monitoran accelerometer for acceleration data indicating that a user may havefallen from a height (such as by a sudden downward acceleration), suchas off a cliff. However, in an example instance where such data isdetected, the electronic device may utilize location information from aGPS device to determine that the electronic device is present as abungee jumping facility. Based on such a determined location, theelectronic device may determine that a care event has not occurredunless the acceleration data indicates that a bungee accident hasoccurred.

In various implementations, the electronic device 101 (and/or one ormore cooperative electronic devices 103) may display medical recordsand/or other information and/or one or more various haptic notificationsregarding such presentation in addition to and/or instead oftransmitting alerts. For example, after detecting that a user may haveexperienced a heart attack, an electronic device 101 may display avisual indication that a user is diabetic and may periodically vibrateto indicate that such information is presented. This may enable careproviders to be alerted to such information when responding and may alsoassist care providers in locating the user upon arrival.

By way of another example, the electronic device 101 may transmit suchmedical records and/or other information and/or associated hapticnotifications to electronic devices within close proximity to theelectronic device (such as via Bluetooth low energy, near fieldcommunication, GPS SOS alerts, and so on). As such, electronic devicesof care providers arriving on scene may receive and present such medicalrecords and/or other information and/or associated haptic notifications,alerting the care providers to the information and/or the location ofthe user.

In some implementations, the environmental data monitored by theelectronic device 101 (and/or one or more cooperative electronic devices103) may relate to proximity and/or connection to one or more monitoredelectronic devices and/or the relationship of the electronic device toone or more geographical boundaries. For example, the electronic devicemay periodically send query messages to a monitored electronic deviceand receive responses from the monitored electronic device. If responsesare not received, the electronic device may transmit alerts regardingsuch. In some cases, the responses may include a geographical positionof the monitored device. As such, the electronic device may storeprevious responses such that a path of the monitored device prior tolosing contact can be determined and/or a future potential path of themonitored device after losing contact may be projected.

In another example, a child's phone may monitor the proximity of aparent's phone. If the child's phone is not within a threshold proximityof (or loses connection to) the parent's phone, such as twenty feet, thechild's phone may determine a care event has occurred and begintransmitting one or more alerts. In some cases, such alerts may bebroadcasted, functioning as an “Amber Alert” to notify electronicdevices proximate to the child's phone that the child has becomeseparated from the parent.

In yet another example, an electronic device 101 may be a monitor wornby a dementia patient that monitors the relationship of the monitor to ageographic boundary such as a hundred feet area surrounding thepatient's home. If the patient goes more than a hundred feet from thepatient's home, the monitor may determine a care event has been detectedand begin transmitting one or more alerts.

In still another example, a group hikers may all wear electronic devices101 that all monitor a connection to each other. If one of the devicesis no longer connected to the other devices, the respective device maybegin transmitting alerts indicating where the device is located andwhich other devices it is still and is not still connected to. In thisway, care providers may know which and how many hikers may be lost. Ifconnection is reestablished, transmission of alerts may cease and/or oneor more alerts may be transmitted to indicate that a care event did notoccur after all.

In various implementations, the electronic device 101 (and/or one ormore cooperative electronic devices 103) may enter into one or morepower saving modes when transmitting alerts, presenting informationand/or haptic output, and so on after detection of a care eventoccurrence. Such a power saving state may mitigate the possibility thata battery or other energy storage component of the electronic devicedoes not lose power before care can be provided and thus conserve powerfor alerts, notifications, and/or presentation of related information.

For example, upon detection of a care event occurrence, an electronicdevice 101 may cease providing power to any component not needed fortransmitting alerts. In this way, the electronic device may continuetransmitting alerts for a longer period of time before consuming allavailable power than if the other components were allowed to continueconsuming power.

In some cases, an electronic device 101 may have multiple power savingmodes that the electronic device may utilize upon detection of a careevent occurrence. By way of example, in some cases the electronic devicemay cease providing power to components not necessary for transmittingalerts when a care event occurrence is first detected, preservingavailable power for alert transmission, and may transmit alerts everyminute. However, after a period of time such as an hour, the electronicdevice may enter a further powered down state by only transmittingalerts every half hour. Such a procedure of multiple power saving levelsmay maximize the possibility of alerting care providers immediately withthe possibility that care providers will be eventually alerted beforeavailable power is consumed entirely.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a first example method 300 forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow may begin at block 301 and may proceed to block 302 where anelectronic device operates. The flow then may proceed to block 303 wherethe electronic device monitors environmental data and/or user data fromone or more sensors. Next, the flow may proceed to block 304 where theelectronic device determines whether or not a care event is detectedbased on the monitored data. If so, the flow may proceed to block 305.Otherwise, the flow may return to block 302 where the electronic devicecontinues to operate.

At block 305, after the electronic device determines that a care eventhas occurred, the electronic device may transmit one or more alerts toone or more care providers.

The flow then may proceed to block 306 where the electronic devicedetermines whether or not to continue transmitting alerts. In somecases, the electronic device may continue transmitting alerts untilalerts have been transmitted to all parties on a care list. In othercases, the electronic device may continue transmitting alerts untilacknowledgments have been received for transmitted alerts. In stillother cases, the electronic device may periodically transmitacknowledgements, such as at one or more time intervals.

If the electronic device determines to continue transmitting alerts, theflow may return to block 305 where the electronic device transmits oneor more alerts. Otherwise, the flow may return to block 302 where theelectronic device continues to operate.

Although the example method 300 is illustrated and described above asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various cases, various orders ofthe same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example method 300 is illustrated and described aboveas returning to block 302 after determining to not continue transmittingalerts regarding a detected occurrence. However, in variousimplementations the electronic device may return to monitoringenvironmental and/or user data in case another care event occurs. Forexample, a first care event may be the detection of an irregularheartbeat for a user. Subsequently, the user's heart may stop andseparate alerts regarding the stopped heartbeat may be transmitted afteralerts regarding the irregular heartbeat are transmitted.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a second example method 400 forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow may begin at block 401 and may proceed to block 402 where anelectronic device operates. The flow then may proceed to block 403 wherethe electronic device receives environmental data and/or user data fromone or more sensors of one or more cooperative electronic devices. Next,the flow may proceed to block 404 where the electronic device determineswhether or not a care event is detected based on the received data. Ifso, the flow may proceed to block 405. Otherwise, the flow may return toblock 402 where the electronic device continues to operate.

At block 405, after the electronic device determines that a care eventhas occurred, the electronic device may transmit one or more alerts toone or more care providers.

The flow then may proceed to block 406 where the electronic devicedetermines whether or not to continue transmitting alerts. If theelectronic device determines to continue transmitting alerts, the flowmay return to block 405 where the electronic device transmits one ormore alerts. Otherwise, the flow may return to block 402 where theelectronic device continues to operate.

Although the example method 400 is illustrated and described above asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various cases, various orders ofthe same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example method 400 is illustrated and described aboveas receiving the environmental and/or user data from one or morecooperative electronic devices. However, in various implementations suchreceived data may be monitored along with data from one or more sensorsof the electronic device to determine the occurrence of a care eventwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a third example method 500 forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow may begin at block 501 and proceeds to block 502 where anelectronic device operates. The flow then may proceed to block 503 wherethe electronic device monitors environmental data and/or user data fromone or more sensors. Next, the flow may proceed to block 504 where theelectronic device determines whether or not a care event is detectedbased on the monitored data. If so, the flow may proceed to block 505.Otherwise, the flow may return to block 502 where the electronic devicecontinues to operate.

At block 505, after the electronic device determines that a care eventhas occurred, the electronic device may signal one or more cooperativeelectronic devices to transmit one or more alerts to one or more careproviders.

The flow then may proceed to block 506 where the electronic devicepresents medical information (such as on one or more displays, via oneor more speakers, and so on) (such as medical records, allergies such asmedicine allergies, medical conditions, medical information related tothe detected occurrence, and so on). Next, the flow may proceed to block507 one or more haptic notifications (such as one or more vibrations,audio alerts, and so on) are provided to indicate that the medicalinformation is presented. In this way, a care provider coming upon auser of the electronic device may be alerted that medical informationfor the user, who may be incapacitated, is available.

The flow then may proceed to block 508 where the electronic devicedetermines whether or not to continue present the medical informationand/or outputting the haptic notifications. In some cases, theelectronic device may periodically present the medical informationand/or outputting the haptic notifications, such as at one or more timeintervals. If so, the flow may return to block 506 where the electronicdevice continues presenting the medical information. Otherwise, the flowmay return to block 502 where the electronic device continues tooperate.

Although the example method 500 is illustrated and described above asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various cases, various orders ofthe same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example method 500 is illustrated and described aboveas presenting the medical information itself. However, in variousimplementations the electronic device may signal other electronicdevices to present the medical information. For example, the electronicdevice may broadcast such information via a communication medium such asBluetooth low energy such that an electronic device of a care providercoming upon a user of the electronic device may present such medicalinformation and/or one or more haptic notifications regarding thepresentation of such medical information.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a fourth example method forproviding alerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed bythe example systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow may begin at block 601 and may proceed to block 602 where theelectronic operates. The flow then may proceed to block 603 where theelectronic device determines whether or not the electronic device isstill connected to a monitored device. Connection between the electronicdevice and the monitored device may be determined based on whether ornot expected signals are received from the monitored device, comparisonof a distance between the two devices to a threshold (wherein they aredetermined connected if within the threshold and determined no longerconnected if they are not within the threshold), and/or any other suchdetermination of connection.

If the electronic device is not still connected to the monitored device,the flow proceeds to block 604. Otherwise, the flow returns to block 602where the electronic device continues to operate.

At block 604, the electronic device may transmit one or more alerts toone or more care providers. The flow may then proceed to block 605 wherethe electronic device may determine whether or not the electronic deviceis reconnected to the monitored device. If so, the flow may return toblock 602 where the electronic device continues to operate. If not, theflow may return to block 605 where the electronic device may continuetransmitting alerts.

Although the example method 600 is illustrated and described above asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various cases, various orders ofthe same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example method 600 is illustrated and described aboveas determining whether or not the electronic device is still connectedto a monitored device at block 603. However, in other implementationsthe electronic device may instead determine whether or not theelectronic device is within a geographical boundary instead ofdetermining without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a fifth example method for providingalerts regarding a care event. This method may be performed by theexample systems of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

The flow may begin at block 701 and may proceed to block 702 where anelectronic device operates. The flow then may proceed to block 703 wherethe electronic device determines whether or not an indication from acooperative electronic device that a care event has been detected isreceived. If so, the flow may proceed to block 704. Otherwise, the flowmay return to block 702 where the electronic device continues tooperate.

At block 704, after the electronic device determines that an indicationfrom a cooperative electronic device that a care event has been detectedis received, the electronic device may present one or more promptsregarding whether or not an alert should be transmitted. The flow maythen proceed to block 705 where the electronic device may determinewhether a negative response, a positive response, or no response, hasbeen received within a timeout period.

If a negative response is received, the flow may return to block 702 andthe electronic device may continue to operate. Otherwise, the flow mayproceed to block 706 where the electronic device may signal thecooperative electronic device to transmit one or more alerts.

Although the example method 700 is illustrated and described above asincluding particular operations performed in a particular order, it isunderstood that this is an example. In various cases, various orders ofthe same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example method 700 is illustrated and described aboveas signaling the same cooperative electronic device to transmit alertsfrom which the indication regarding a detected care event was received.However, in various implementations these functions may be performed byone or more different cooperative electronic devices.

As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, thepresent disclosure discloses systems, methods, and apparatuses forproviding alerts regarding a care event. An occurrence of one or morecare events is detected by an electronic device monitoring environmentaldata and/or user data from one or more sensors. The electronic devicetransmits one or more alerts regarding the detected occurrence to atleast one other electronic device. In some cases, the electronic devicemay cooperate with at least one other electronic device (a cooperativeelectronic device) in monitoring, detecting, and/or transmitting. Forexample, the electronic device may detect the occurrence based on sensordata received from a cooperative electronic device or such data incombination with the electronic device's sensor data. By way of anotherexample, the electronic device may detect the occurrence and signal acooperative electronic device to transmit one or more alerts.

In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented assets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it isunderstood that the specific orderor hierarchy of steps in the methodsdisclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, thespecific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearrangedwhile remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanyingmethod claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order,and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented.

The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product,or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program acomputer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a processaccording to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g.,software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the formof, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppydiskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; and so on.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosedsubject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of thefollowing claims to encompass and include such changes.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited tothem. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements arepossible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the presentdisclosure have been described in the context or particular embodiments.Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently invarious embodiments of the disclosure or described with differentterminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined inthe claims that follow.

We claim:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a sensor that gathers sensor data; processing circuitry configured to: monitor the sensor data to detect that a user has fallen; present a prompt in response to detecting that the user has fallen; monitor the sensor data to detect a motion response by the user within a time period after the prompt is presented; and detect a positive response to the prompt within the time period; and communication circuitry that transmits an alert after an additional time period if the motion response is not detected, wherein the communication circuitry transmits the alert before the additional time period if the positive response is detected.
 2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a touch screen, wherein the positive response comprises a touch input on the touch screen.
 3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the prompt comprises an audio notification.
 4. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the prompt further comprises a haptic notification.
 5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the alert includes location data.
 6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a heart rate sensor.
 7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry monitors heart rate data collected by the heart rate sensor to detect an irregular heart rate of the user and presents an additional prompt in response to detecting the irregular heart rate.
 8. A wearable electronic device having first and second opposing sides, the wearable electronic device comprising: a display on the first side, wherein the second side is configured to face a user's arm; a sensor that collects sensor data; processing circuitry that monitors the sensor data to detect a fall by the user and to detect a motion by the user after the fall, wherein the processing circuitry displays a prompt in response to detecting the fall, and wherein the processing circuitry monitors the sensor data to detect a negative response to the prompt from the user; and wireless communication circuitry that transmits an alert if the motion is not detected unless the negative response to the prompt is detected.
 9. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the negative response comprises a touch input.
 10. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the alert is transmitted to emergency services automatically without user input.
 11. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the alert is transmitted to local emergency services based on a location of the wearable electronic device.
 12. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the alert includes a location of the wearable electronic device.
 13. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 12, wherein the alert includes a voice response from the user.
 14. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the display forms a majority of the first side.
 15. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the display displays information regarding the fall.
 16. The wearable electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein the wearable electronic device enters into a power saving mode in response to detecting the fall.
 17. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an audio alert and GPS information and wherein the alert is transmitted to emergency services.
 18. An electronic device, comprising: a sensor that gathers sensor data; processing circuitry configured to: monitor the sensor data to detect that a user has fallen; present a prompt in response to detecting that the user has fallen; monitor the sensor data to detect a motion by the user within a time period; and detect a positive response to the prompt within the time period; and communication circuitry that transmits an alert after an additional time period if the motion is not detected, wherein the communication circuitry transmits the alert before the additional time period if the positive response is detected. 